EP20K600CB652C8N - 600K Gate APEX 20KC FPGA, BGA-652 | Altera
MPN: EP20K600CB652C8N ✗ End of Life| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $185 | $185.00 |
| 10 | $165 | $1,650.00 |
| 100 | $142 | $14,200.00 |
| 500 | $128 | $64,000.00 |
| 1,000 | $115 | $115,000.00 |
EP20K600CB652C8N Overview
An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) is a semiconductor device built from an array of configurable logic blocks (CLBs), embedded memory blocks, programmable I/O cells, and dedicated routing resources. FPGAs belong to the broader hierarchy of programmable logic devices (PLDs) -> loadable PLDs -> FPGAs -> programmable logic ICs. APEX 20KC devices specifically integrate MultiCore architecture combining look-up table (LUT) logic, embedded system blocks (ESBs) that can be configured as RAM/ROM/CAM, and high-speed I/O, allowing a single chip to replace discrete glue logic, memory, and bus-interface components.
Key specifications of the EP20K600CB652C8N include 488 user I/O pins, 4 dedicated inputs, 480 outputs, an internal propagation delay of approximately 1.48 ns (pin-to-pin timing window 1.78 ns), a 1.8 V core supply (1.71 V to 1.89 V), and a commercial operating temperature grade of 0 °C to 85 °C. The part is offered in speed grade 8 (C8).
Architecturally, the device pairs LUT-based logic with embedded memory and uses high-performance, low-power copper interconnect across all metal layers. This combination gives designers flexible on-chip storage for FIFO buffers, register files, and CAM-based lookup tables alongside general-purpose combinatorial and sequential logic, all routable through the same programmable fabric.
Typical applications include telecommunications line cards, high-speed data-packet processors, DSP co-processing, protocol bridging, ASIC prototyping, and high-density glue-logic consolidation for networking and industrial systems. Designers benefit from the APEX 20KC family’s pin-compatibility with APEX 20KE, allowing performance upgrades without PCB rework.
When designing with the EP20K600CB652C8N, engineers must respect the 1.8 V core supply tolerance (1.71 V to 1.89 V) and use Altera’s Quartus II design suite (legacy support) for synthesis, place-and-route, and bitstream generation. Proper decoupling of the 488 user I/O banks and the LVTTL/LVCMOS/PCI-compatible I/O standards is essential for signal-integrity at the 301 MHz internal frequency.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, APEX 20KC family drop-in alternatives, and practical design notes not found in the original datasheet.
Drop-in alternatives for EP20K600CB652C8N — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with EP20K600CB652C8N (same form factor and footprint) — differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Process Technology, Speed Grade, Device Type.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EP20K600CB652C8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$105 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K600CB652C7N
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$305 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K600CB652C7ES
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$195 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K600CB652C-8
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$86 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K600CB652C7
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$1320 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K600CB652C7E5
✅ Drop-In✓ In Stock
$175 / Unit
View Datasheet →EP20K600CB652C8N Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Family | APEX 20KC |
| Device Type | Loadable PLD / FPGA |
| System Gates | 600,000 |
| Logic Elements | 24,320 cells |
| Embedded Memory | 311,296 bits |
| User I/O Pins | 488 |
| Dedicated Inputs | 4 |
| Outputs | 480 |
| Propagation Delay (typ.) | 1.48 ns |
| Pin-to-Pin Timing | 1.78 ns |
| Internal Frequency (typ.) | 301.21 MHz |
| Core Supply Voltage | 1.8 V nominal (1.71 V to 1.89 V) |
| Process Technology | 0.18 µm all-layer copper-metal |
| Speed Grade | C8 |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to 85 °C (commercial) |
| Package | 652-ball LBGA, 45 x 45 mm, 1.27 mm pitch |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount (BGA) |
| Architecture | MultiCore LUT + Embedded System Blocks (ESB) |
| Pin-Compatible With | APEX 20KE family |
| RoHS Status | unknown |
EP20K600CB652C8N 652-ball lbga, 45 x 45 mm, 1.27 mm pitch Pin Configuration Guide
Pin configuration for EP20K600CB652C8N (652-ball lbga, 45 x 45 mm, 1.27 mm pitch package). This digital IC includes GPIO, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and power pins. Refer to the manufacturer datasheet for alternate pin functions and configuration options. Essential for embedded system design and PCB layout.
No detailed pinout data available for EP20K600CB652C8N.
Refer to the datasheet for full pin configuration.
Typical Applications
EP20K600CB652C8N is suitable for 6 applications: Telecom Line-Card Design, ASIC Prototyping and Emulation, High-Density Glue Logic Consolidation, DSP Co-Processing and Pipeline Acceleration, Industrial Control and Networking Equipment, Legacy Aerospace and Defense Avionics (Sustaining Engineering).
Telecom Line-Card Design
The EP20K600CB652C8N fits telecom line-card designs thanks to its 488 user I/O pins, 311,296 bits of embedded memory, and 24,320 logic elements. These resources support high-channel-count data-packet framing, ATM/SONET/SDH cell processing, and serial-to-parallel protocol conversion without external glue logic. The 301 MHz internal frequency and 1.48 ns typical propagation delay enable line-rate processing for legacy OC-3/OC-12 paths, while the 1.8 V core minimizes per-line power. Its pin-compatible upgrade path to APEX 20KE devices protects design investment when migrating platforms.
Recommended
ASIC Prototyping and Emulation
The EP20K600CB652C8N is well matched to ASIC prototyping because its 600K system gates and MultiCore LUT + embedded memory architecture let designers map large ASIC RTL blocks onto a single device. With 488 user I/O pins, engineers can break out wide on-chip buses to header connectors for logic-analyzer or speed-bridge debugging. The 1.48 ns propagation delay and 301 MHz fabric frequency preserve timing margin when emulating mid-complexity ASICs. Quartus II synthesis with the APEX 20KC device library keeps RTL-to-bitstream flow identical to production silicon.
Recommended
High-Density Glue Logic Consolidation
Designers consolidating discrete CMOS/TTL glue logic onto a single FPGA benefit from the EP20K600CB652C8N's 24,320 logic elements and 480 outputs. Wide address and data buses can be re-mapped on-chip, reducing PCB complexity and improving signal-integrity at 301 MHz. The 311,296 bits of embedded RAM replace external FIFOs and register files used for bus buffering, while 488 user I/O pins support multi-bridge applications such as PCI-to-PCI or memory-controller aggregation. Pin-compatibility with APEX 20KE lets teams scale density without board re-spins.
Recommended
DSP Co-Processing and Pipeline Acceleration
The EP20K600CB652C8N serves as a DSP co-processor by dedicating logic elements to MAC pipelines, FIR filters, and FFT butterflies while embedded memory blocks hold coefficient tables and ping-pong sample buffers. Its 301 MHz fabric frequency and 1.48 ns propagation delay sustain real-time data rates for sample streams up to several hundred MSPS in baseband or modem subsystems. 488 user I/O pins provide ample parallel interface bandwidth to host DSPs, ADCs, and DACs, and pin-compatibility with APEX 20KE preserves board layout across design revisions.
Recommended
Industrial Control and Networking Equipment
Industrial control and networking systems rely on the EP20K600CB652C8N for protocol bridging, multi-port Ethernet switching glue, and fieldbus aggregation. With 488 user I/O pins, the FPGA can terminate multiple serial buses (SPI, I2C, UART, CAN) in parallel and run protocol stacks in logic. The 0 °C to 85 °C commercial temperature range suits factory-floor enclosures, and the 1.8 V core supply (1.71 V to 1.89 V) simplifies power-tree design alongside 3.3 V I/O. Legacy equipment upgrades often select this device because of long-term firmware stability in Quartus II.
Recommended
Legacy Aerospace and Defense Avionics (Sustaining Engineering)
Sustaining-engineering programs in aerospace and defense continue to specify the EP20K600CB652C8N because fielded avionics and mission computers were designed around its APEX 20KC MultiCore architecture. The 652-ball LBGA, 488 user I/O pins, and 311,296-bit embedded memory cover MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, and discrete I/O aggregation tasks. Drop-in variants such as EP20K600CB652C7N (C7 speed grade) and EP20K600CB652C7ES (extended screening) allow incremental timing or reliability upgrades without board re-design, preserving form-fit-function across the fleet.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EP20K600CB652C8N — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EP20K600CB652C8 | EP20K600CB652C7N | EP20K600CB652C7ES | EP20K600CB652C-8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) | Altera (Intel) |
| Package | 652-ball LBGA (45x45 mm, 1.27 mm pitch) | 652-ball LBGA (45x45 mm) - same | 652-ball LBGA (45x45 mm) - same | 652-ball LBGA (45x45 mm) - same | 652-ball LBGA (45x45 mm) - same |
| Family | APEX 20KC | APEX 20KC | APEX 20KC | APEX 20KC | APEX 20KC |
| System Gates | 600,000 | 600,000 | 600,000 | 600,000 | 600,000 |
| Logic Elements | 24,320 | 24,320 | 24,320 | 24,320 | 24,320 |
| Embedded Memory | 311,296 bits | 311,296 bits | 311,296 bits | 311,296 bits | 311,296 bits |
| User I/O | 488 | 488 | 488 | 488 | 488 |
| Speed Grade | C8 | C8 | C7 (faster) | C7 (faster, ES) | C8 |
| Core Voltage | 1.8 V (1.71 V - 1.89 V) | 1.8 V (1.71 V - 1.89 V) | 1.8 V (1.71 V - 1.89 V) | 1.8 V (1.71 V - 1.89 V) | 1.8 V (1.71 V - 1.89 V) |
| Operating Temperature | 0 °C to 85 °C (commercial) | 0 °C to 85 °C | 0 °C to 85 °C | 0 °C to 85 °C (extended screening) | 0 °C to 85 °C |
Key Differentiators
- Pb-free (N-suffix) variant specified for current lead-free assembly (vs EP20K600CB652C8)
- Faster speed grade available in identical footprint (vs EP20K600CB652C7N)
- Extended-screening (ES) variant for harsh environments (vs EP20K600CB652C7ES)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 1.8 V core and 488 active I/O, the EP20K600CB652C8N core current can reach several hundred mA at 301 MHz with typical toggle rates. Provide at least four 100 µF bulk caps plus 0.1 µF + 0.01 µF decoupling pairs adjacent to each VCCINT and VCCIO ball row. Place a ferrite bead between the regulator and the FPGA VCCINT plane to attenuate the 1.8 V rail noise that couples into the LVTTL I/O thresholds.
The 652-ball LBGA at 1.27 mm pitch requires 4 mil trace-and-space with microvia or via-in-pad stack-ups for reliable breakout. Fan-out escape routing from the inner-row balls uses two-layer dog-bone fan-out. Match lengths within each LVDS or SSTL byte group to within 25 mil to preserve edge-to-edge skew at 301 MHz. Connect all GND balls to a solid ground plane; do not share vias between VCCIO and VCCINT to avoid supply-coupling.
Do not assume APEX 20KE bitstreams run on APEX 20KC silicon; the C8 vs C7 vs KE speed-grade IDs differ. Designers migrating from 20KE must recompile in Quartus II to regenerate configuration data. Also, leaving unused I/O pins floating violates the 1.8 V core supply’s ESD structure - configure all unused pins as outputs driving low or as inputs with internal weak pull-ups enabled.
Series-terminate each LVTTL output near the FPGA when driving more than 2 inches of trace or 4 loads at 100 MHz+. For SSTL2 or SSTL3 I/O standards, use external VTT termination at the receiver end with 50 Ω to the 1.25 V or 1.5 V termination rail. Use the Quartus II board-level IBIS models to simulate simultaneous-switching noise on the 488 I/O banks.
Compliance Information
The 'N' suffix typically denotes Pb-free lead finish per Altera/Intel legacy ordering convention; RoHS and REACH status were not explicitly stated in the verified web data and are marked unknown.
